Hello, everyone! I have returned...sort of. You see, as much as I want to publish all the bonus material I had planned, I've run into a concrete wall of writer's block on some of it. Therefore, I will put up what I have and call it a day, ending this story for good.
First off, a reviewer wanted Joshua to be transformed like Sol was, but I had already planned against it. However, his eagerness was contagious, so I quickly hashed out this piece of the story. Here is:
Joshua's Curse:
As the power courses through me, my gaze fixed on the cowering Joshua, I feel the perfect idea tickle the back of my mind, and a wicked smile crosses my muzzle. If a ninetales is what you desire so much, let's see how you feel being one in the future!
A wave of foxfire issues from me, washing over the young trainer. He tries to scream, but it sticks in his throat as pain seizes him; I have no intention of showing him mercy. He rapidly shrinks into his clothes, before they burn away to reveal his contorting body.
As he changes, a single thought surfaces in the back of my mind, breaking me out of my vicious thoughts: what will Eve think? During our travels here, she tried to hammer home that not all humans are bad, and even those who are can be redeemed in the end. I wonder, could Joshua be redeemed? I try to dismiss the notion, but I can feel doubt take root in my heart.
I realize I've drifted in my concentration and refocus on Joshua; it looks like his changes have finished. He lay unmoving on the ground, alive but unconscious from the pain. However, my distraction seems to have affected his transformation; instead of a young vulpix as intended, he is now a young eevee. The sight of his small body triggers a distant memory, almost like looking at myself, and I feel the doubt from before growing stronger. Part of me wants to change him again, but the foxfire and surge of power have faded, and I can see the smoke clearing around us out of the corner of my eye.
Without the power and vengeance clouding my thoughts, the weight of my choice hits me hard. I stole a young man's humanity, forcing him to live as a young Pokémon…similar to how I did, except I was born…wasn't I? I can feel both Eve's and Kevin's eyes on me, but I cannot bear to look back at them.
Wait…Eve! I think, quickly coming to a decision. "Take him," I voice roughly, addressing Eve only. "Raise him right. And…I'm sorry."
With that, I bolt into the trees, ignoring both of their shouts. Despair sinks in, as I realize I've doomed any chance at saving Nana as well. Whether Joshua retains any memory of his human life after this, I don't know. Regardless, he cannot help me free Nana in his current state, and I worry Kevin will also avoid me, especially after such a display of power. I'm…all alone again.
Meanwhile, many miles away, another Pokémon opens her eyes having watched the events from afar. She shakes her head, then turns back into her den, nine tails flowing behind her.
"Such a waste," she says to herself. "I guess he hasn't changed at all…"
Next, I wanted to tell the alternate outcomes for Sol's choice at the end, but one of them is the one I cannot write. So, instead I'll give the other option and leave the missing one to your imagination. Here is:
Time Travel:
"I want to go back," I say to Mystia. "If I stop my past self from being cursed, maybe I can change what happened."
She hesitates, as if unsure of my decision. "If you go back, though, you'll undo everything you've accomplished so far."
"I haven't really done anything of note," I reply. "Besides cursing Joshua, not much else matters." I saw Eve flinch out of the corner of my eye but choose to ignore it. Then, an idea occurs to me. "If I go back…can you curse him as I did? That's all I'll ask of you-"
"What good is it to tell me now?" she states. "You have to tell me then, if you're so sure of this."
Beckoning with the tip of one tail, a green orb of light flies into the clearing from the woods and starts circling around me. I can see the silhouette of the Time-traveler inside the light, though I cannot really see them clearly. As the green light begins to surround me, I hear Mystia say, "You will not have much time before history reverts and you disappear, so choose your words carefully."
Then, my vision blurs and distorts as time rewinds around me, and I find myself in the same spot but ten years in the past. I can see Henry reaching for Mystia, frozen just before his fingers can brush her fur. A voice whispers in my ear, "You have thirty seconds. Go."
I nod and burst into motion, time resuming as soon as I leave the safety of the green glow. I summon all my strength and bark, "STOP!"
They both freeze in shock, turning to me. I know Henry can't understand me, but at least the sound kept him from sealing his fate. I notice foxfire swirling around Mystia, but it's not directed at either of us, so I assume she's trying to hide. A wave of exhaustion washes over me, signaling the collapse of my original timeline, so I focus all my attention on Henry.
"I do not have much time, but I came to tell you something important: turn from this path you've set for yourself, or you shall suffer the same fate as I did. Swallow your arrogance, or-"
I cannot say anything else, as all coherent thought flees from me. Balls of light quickly gather around me, and then darkness as I fade away.
Henry watches the odd ninetales vanish into the light, confused by the voice in his head, then notices he's all alone. Drat, he thinks. She got away. That must have been an illusion she made to distract me. I mean, I'm not arrogant in the slightest; all of the power I've gained is earned. It's everyone else who doesn't understand…right?
Lost in thought, he wanders off, completely ignoring or missing the hidden ninetales watching him warily. She senses how close he came to being cursed, but feels no need to pursue him. Instead, her thoughts turn to the sudden appearance and disappearance of that odd ninetales. Then, she notices a faint green light flying toward her and understands.
"Celebi," she nods. "I take it you brought him here?"
Nod from the fairy.
"And I guess he's from a future that no longer exists?"
Nod again.
"So I cursed that trainer, he sought you out, and came back to stop me."
Shakes her head this time.
"No? Well, it doesn't matter. I doubt he'll ever find me again. Not if I have any say in it."
Shrug.
"Do you have anything you need to say to me? Or did you just want to say hi?"
The fairy floats closer and whispers into Mystia's ear.
"He wants me to WHAT? I don't even know the guy!"
Exasperated look.
"Sigh. Fine, if I happen across him…and he manages to tick me off…I'll curse him in that particular way. Seems interesting, to say the least."
She nods and disappears. Mystia stands as well, keeping the foxfire around her as she sets out for somewhere else to live. Maybe I'll visit my friend Firedancer before I go…
And there you have it. This story is finished, at least as far as I can take it. Thank you all for enduring my long absences, and I recommend checking out my other works, as well as the forum I run if you want to join. May your Embers never fade.
